The Sri Lanka visa has a validity period of 30 days, allowing you to stay in the country up to those 30 days. From the issue date of the visa, you can travel to Sri Lanka a maximum of twice within a six-month period. On this page, you can read more about the exact validity period and how to extend it.

Visa for tourists and business travellers

Different types of visas are available for Sri Lanka. Tourists and business travellers can use the electronic visa, which is available with an online form. This visa is also known as the ETA Sri Lanka. The ETA is the most commonly used type of visa as it is easy to apply for and is sufficient for a short holiday, cruise, business trip or transfer/layover through Sri Lanka. An ETA allows travellers to spend up to 30 days in Sri Lanka, with the possibility of extension. The information on this page is limited to the ETA Sri Lanka. Do you need a different visa type, for example because you want to work in Sri Lanka? If so, please contact the embassy.

Validity and the authorised duration of stay

There is a difference between the validity period and the authorised duration of stay of the ETA. The validity period is the period of time you are allowed to enter Sri Lanka after receiving your visa. The duration of stay is the maximum allowed duration of your stay in Sri Lanka.

You have 180 days to enter Sri Lanka

Once your visa application is approved, you may use the visa to travel to Sri Lanka within the next 180 days. This is only allowed if you meet all the requirements of the visa. The expiry date is indicated on the visa, and once expired, your visa is no longer valid. You will then no longer be allowed to travel to Sri Lanka with this visa. If you wish to travel to Sri Lanka (again) after the expiry date, you must apply for a new visa.
Apply for a Sri Lanka visa

The duration of stay is 30 days

You can stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days with the Sri Lanka visa. It does not matter whether you arrive in the country on the first or the last day of the validity period. You are always allowed to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days from your date of arrival in the country, even if you arrive on the last day of the validity period of your visa.

You are allowed to enter and exit Sri Lanka twice with the same visa within the 30-day period. The second and final exit must also fall within this period. Since the ETA Sri Lanka allows two stays in the country, this travel authorisation is ideally suited for cruises.

Is your departure to Sri Lanka more than 90 days in the future?
You can submit your visa application through e-Visa.co.uk as far in advance as you want. In the application form, you must enter an expected arrival date in Sri Lanka. If your expected arrival date over 90 days in the future, your application will be put on hold. Exactly 90 days before your expected departure to the country, your visa application will be processed. This is done to ensure that your visa is valid for your planned trip. It also gives you room to slightly shift your travel plans. In fact, you may arrive in Sri Lanka a maximum of three months earlier or later than you have entered in the form. You do not need to communicate this change in your travel dates.

Extending validity for the Sri Lanka visa

Once in Sri Lanka, it is possible to get the authorised period of stay extended. A total of three extension applications can be submitted. With these extensions, the authorised duration of stay can be incrementally extended to 90, 180 and finally 270 days. Please note that you cannot extend the number of entries and exists into Sri Lanka, despite the extensions. Even a fully extended Sri Lanka only allows for 2 entries and exits.

An application to have the duration of stay extended can only be made once in Sri Lanka and therefore cannot be done not before travelling. To apply for the extension, you need to visit the immigration office in Colombo. It is not compulsory to schedule an appointment in advance, but you can. You do this by filling in a form online and then scheduling an appointment at the immigration office.

Address of the Immigration Services Centre: No. 330, Galle Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka

It is not possible to extend 180-day validity period of your visa. This validity period is indicated on your visa. Do you want to travel to Sri Lanka only after this validity period has expired? Then apply for a new Sri Lanka visa. Please note that it is only possible to submit a new application after the validity period of your current visa has expired.